Switch actuator



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E. W. TREDEAU SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed Nov. 20, 1942 f7 fr? A @y f PatentedNov. 20, 1945 IUNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE assazzo swrrcn Ac'rUA'roaEarl W. Tredeau, West Allis, Wis. i Application November 2o, 1942,serial No. 466,306

(ol. zoo-m) 2 Claims.

switch actuators and enable a child This invention relates to moreparticularly to an actuator to to operate a standard light switch.

In the home, light switches are placed in the wall at an elevation whichis convenient for adults. Small children, so called toddlers, thereforecan not reach the switch to turn on the light and as a result are likelyto trip and fall in the dark.

One object of the present invention is to provide a switch actuatorapplicable to a standard wall light switch to enable a small child tooperate the switch.

Another object is to provide a switch actuator which is readily appliedto the face plate of a standard wall switch, and which will be simple toAuse and economical to manufacture.

Further objects will become apparent upon considering the followingspecication, which, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing illustrates two forms of the invention.

In the drawing: y

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an ordinary lever action snapswitch used in home lighting circuits, showing the actuator comprisingthe present invention in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. lshowing details of the actuator;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a push button type of domesticlight switch, showing a modified form of actuator included in thepresent invention in place thereon;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3showing the modiiled form of actuator; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4

showing the modified form of actuator.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 which show a lever type of homelighting switch II) mounted in a wall box II. The switch I0 has aretaining piece I2 secured. on the outer edge thereof which positionsthe switch III in the box II, by means of screws I3 which pass throughthe outer ends of the retaining piece I2 and are secured in the rim ofthe box I I.

A face plate I4 covers the open end of the switch I0 and iits ush on thewall I5. The face plate I4 is normally secured in position by means of.screws I6 which pass through the face plate I4 and engage threaded holesin the retaining piece I2. In a standard switch the screws having fiatheads iit into countersunkrecesses in the plate I4. In this inventionthese screws are reeither up or down.

placed by longer screws I6 'having heads with a nat rear face, such asround head screws.

The switch has an actuating lever I1 which projects through the faceplate and moves on a pivot to an on position and an off position.

The secondary actuator which forms the subject matter of the presentinvention comprises a plate 20 having an aperture 2I therein whichreceives the switch levers I1, and a pair of spaced alined apertures 22,22 through which the screws I6 pass. The plate 20 is held spaced fromthe face plate I4 by spacer sleeves 24--24 against which the plate 20abuts and which have reduced ends 25 extending through the apertures22-22 against which the screws I6 abut, to give free rectilinearmovement to the plate 20 while clamping the face plate I4 securely inplace.

A stick 26 or other compression resisting member is loosely secured on apivot 21 to the lower end of the plate 20 and extends downwardly to apoint within the easy reach of a small child.

To operate the light switch a child wishing to turn on the light gripsthe stick 26 and moves it The movement of the stick 26 is transmitted tothe plate 20 which moves up or down guided by the screws I6. The edgesof the aperture 2| engage the switch lever I1 to transmit the motion ofthe plate 20 to the lever I1 and actuate the switch.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, for use with thepush button type of switch, a plate 30 is secured to the face plate I4by the screws I6'. The plate 30 has ears 3| which turn outwardly andpivotally receive an actuat7 ing lever 32. The actuating lever has arms33-33 which engage the two buttons 34--34 of the conventional pushbutton switch. A stick or other compression resisting member 35 ispivotally attached to the outer end of the lever 32 on a pin 36.

To operate stick 35 and by moving it up lever 32 to rotate on its pivotarms 33-33 to press one of the actuate the switch.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention the screws I6'serve to secure both plates 20-30 and the face plates I4-I4 in positionand that the screws I6' pass through the holes provided in the standardswitch for securing the face plates.

Having thus described the invention it is realized that it issusceptible to various changes and modifications and it is not thereforedesired to limit the invention to the precise forms herein the lightswitch a child grips the or down causes the 31 which causes the buttons34 to shown and described but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed by Letters Patent is:

1. For a iight switch having a retaining strip with a pair of spacedthreaded holes therein, a i'ace plate having apertures therethrough inalinement with said threaded holes and a primary switch `actuatorprojecting through said face plate, a secondary actuator structureadapted to be mounted on the switch without removing or reversing saidface plate comprising a secondary actuator having elongated aperturestherein and an aperture receiving said primary switch, spacing meansprojecting through said elongated apertures and forming guides for saidsecondary actuator, a pair o! screws for securing said spacing meansagainst said face plate and the face plate in assembled position andpassing through the apertures in said i'ace plate and the threaded holeso! said strip, and means on said secondary actuator to enable theprimary switch actuator tovbe moved from a point remote therefrom andwithin the reach oi a toddler.

2. For a iight switch having a retaining strip as new and desired tosecure assaaao with a pair of spaced threaded holes face plate havingapertures therethrough in mary switch actuator projecting through saidface plate. a secondary actuator structure adapt ed to be mounted on theswitch without removing or reversing said face plate comprising anactuator member having spaced slots therein and an aperture receivingsaid primary switch actuator,

y clamp said spacers against the face plate and the tace plate inassembled position, said actuator member being loosely mounted betweensaid point remote therefrom and within the reach of a

